Search

Self-guided Walking at Dovedale

Activity types:

Level

Difficulty indicator

Difficulty is measured on many factors such as distance, ascent/descent, terrain, weather and more. There's no magic formula, but from our experience we use yellow for easy, orange for medium and red for hard. Challenger holidays require a high level of fitness and stamina.

Holiday overview

Enjoy a break in the Peak District with the walking experts; we have all the ingredients for your perfect Self-Guided Walking holiday. Our 3-star Country House, just a few minutes' walk from the limestone gorge of Dove Dale, is geared to the needs of walkers and outdoor enthusiasts. Enjoy hearty local food, detailed route notes, and an inspirational location from which to explore the stunning landscapes of the Derbyshire Dales.

In pictures...

Accommodation

The Peveril of the Peak occupies a wonderful position in the village of Thorpe, less than a mile from the famous stepping stones at the entrance to the Dove Dale gorge. Named after the novel by Sir Walter Scott, it offers excellent facilities and is surrounded by extensive grounds.

Choose your room

Classic Rooms• Check in from 2:30pm• Comfortable accommodation • En-suite bathroom with bath or shower• 23 inch TV• Hairdryer• Tea and coffee-making facilities• Double or two single beds• Toiletries• Single rooms are available at no extra charge

Family Rooms• Check-in from 2:30pm• 3 or 4 beds • Same facilities as our classic rooms• Full sized twin or double beds for adults and bunk or occasional beds for children

Facilities

• Excellent boot and drying rooms • Reception area and lounge on the ground floor• Newly refurbished dining room and a bar• Function room and additional bar upstairs• Free WiFi available in some public rooms• Range of board games and books

• Extensive grounds with a patio and garden with wide ranging views of countryside • Famous stepping stones at the base of Dove Dale, less than a mile away through a footpath that is linked to the car park• Tissington Trail is also nearby

Dining

All holidays at our Country Houses are full board accommodation including evening meal on arrival to breakfast on the day of your departure. All of our Country Houses have a well-stocked bar serving local beers, wine and spirits.

√Start your day with our extensive breakfast.√ Take your fill from our famous self-service picnic lunches√ A relaxed social dinner is a highlight of any stay at our Country Houses

Your evenings

Just relax and take it easy, or if you'd like to continue to chat with our guides and fellow guests then why not grab a drink or take part in one of our optional evening activities.

All of our bars are stocked with locally sourced drinks so you can really soak up your surroundings.

Self-guided walks

To make the most of your break use the Discovery Point at the Peveril of the Peak - the starting point for your outdoor adventure.

You'll find our recommended walking and cycling routes - detailed route notes for you to borrow contain route maps, and information about the places of interest on the walk. There's also a comprehensive library of local maps and guidebooks.

When you're not walking, there's plenty to do locally. Why not cycle along the nearby Tissington Trail, discover Chatsworth House, or visit the Alton Towers theme park. See the 'Local Area' tab for further ideas.

During your stay at Dovedale you can enjoy the following recommended routes:

Laid back walks

Our easiest routes, allowing plenty of time to savour the beautiful scenery. All our walk notes suggest the best places to stop, great pubs, and tea rooms.

Full on walks

For those who love to stride out. Expect some rougher paths on these longer walks which take in some of the Peak District hills.

Mam Tor - 7 miles

The Roaches & Lud's Church - 7 miles

Dovedale & Tissington Trail - 9 miles

Derwent Valley Heritage Way and The Edges - 10 miles

Milldale to Hartington - 10 miles

White Peak Dales & Villages - 12 miles

Local area

Discover the Peak District

The Peveril of the Peak occupies a wonderfully peaceful location in the village of Thorpe, and is surrounded by the rolling countryside of the Derbyshire Dales.

The nearest facilities are in the small town of Ashbourne, about 3 miles away. Here you’ll find a full range of shops plus supermarkets, banks, chemists, pubs and cafés.

During your stay you may enjoy visiting the following places of interest:

Dove DaleOne of the natural wonders of the Peak District, the spectacular limestone valley of Dove Dale is less than 1 mile from The Peveril of the Peak – just follow the footpath signs from the car park.

Chatsworth HouseHome to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House is one of Britain’s most visited stately homes, which sits at the heart of a huge estate. Throughout the house there are fine displays of furniture, silver, tapestries, porcelain and paintings. The formal gardens cover 105 acres and include fountains, sculptures and a maze. Chatsworth is around 50 minutes' drive from The Peveril of the Peak. www.chatsworth.org

Crich Tramways VillageLocated near the village of Crich, about 45 minutes' drive away, the National Tramway Museum has an impressive collection of vintage trams which run on a recreated historic street. www.tramway.co.uk

CastletonThe popular village of Castleton is an excellent starting point for walks in the ‘Dark Peak’; just under an hour's drive away. Nearby are four extensive show caves: Peak Cavern, Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern. www.castleton.co.uk/caverns

BakewellHome to the famous ‘Bakewell Pudding’, this is one of the most attractive small towns in the national park. Bakewell is around 35 minutes' drive away.

Alton TowersThe huge Alton Towers theme park is only 30 minutes' drive away and is a very popular option for families. www.altontowers.com

Tissington TrailThe Tissington Trail is just half a mile away from The Peveril of the Peak. This offers 13 miles of traffic-free cycling along a disused railway line and connects with the 17 mile High Peak Trail. Cycle hire is available nearby.

Travel

Travel to Dovedale

By train:

The nearest railway stations are Buxton or Derby. For train times and general rail enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 03457 484950 (from outside the UK call +44 20 7278 5240).

By taxi:

The 19 mile journey from Buxton railway station takes approximately 35 minutes; the 17 mile journey from Derby takes approx 40 minutes. Pre-booked taxis cost approx £31 per taxi. Details of our current recommended taxi company and rates will be sent to you with your booking. The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Peveril of the Peak Manager.

Please note that the phone number for Peak Cars has changed to 07890 811 292.

By bus:

There is a bus service as far as Ashbourne, about 3 miles from our country house. From Buxton take the 442 service or from Derby catch the SW1 service. For bus times see www.traveline.info

By car:

From the south leave the M1 at junction 24 and head to Ashbourne via the A50 and A515. Continue north on the A515 heading towards Buxton. 1 mile north of Ashbourne turn left, signposted to Thorpe, Dovedale and Ilam. After a further 2 miles the road bends sharply left by the Old Dog pub. The Peveril of the Peak lies ahead at the bottom of the hill. Look out for the sign.

From Buxton take the A515 south towards Ashbourne. After 17 miles turn right at a crossroads, following signs to Thorpe, Ilam and Dovedale. After 1 mile turn right by the Old Dog pub. The Peveril of the Peak lies ahead at the bottom of the hill. Look out for the sign.

From the west leave the M6 at junction 15 and head via the A50, Cheadle (A521) and Oakamoor (A5417) to the A52. At the junction of the A52 and the A523 take the minor road signposted to Ilam. After 1½ miles turn left and descend the hill. Cross the bridge at Ilam, turn right and follow the road up a steep hill and onwards through Dovedale and Thorpe village. The Peveril of the Peak is on the left hand side at the end of the village.

Travelling from overseas

Dovedale is located in the centre of the UK, with a number of airport options.

East Midlands Airport is about 30 miles away - this is served by short-haul European flights. If you're flying here we'd recommend pre-booking a taxi direct to the Peveril of the Peak - cost about £60.

London Luton Airport has lots of low-cost European flights. From here take the shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway station, then on by train to Derby with 1 change at Leicester. Allow 1 hour 50 minutes to Derby - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times. Complete your journey by taxi (see above).

Manchester Airport has a much wider range of long-haul flights. There are trains every hour from the airport to Buxton with one change at Manchester Piccadilly. Allow 1 hour 40 minutes to Buxton - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times. Complete your journey by taxi (see above).

Flying to London Heathrow Airport is another option, but has a longer onward train journey - allow 3 hours to reach Derby. From Heathrow first take the Piccadilly line Underground train to London St Pancras. From here take a train to direct to Derby - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times. Complete your journey by taxi (see above).